Urgent care in ophthalmology for the multi-professional workforce programme

This brand-new programme will support professionals seeking to develop into an independent practitioner role within the urgent care setting.

It has been designed, by the Moorfields Clinical Education, to address a critical gap in the healthcare pathway by upskilling the multi-professional workforce (A&E nurses, GP nurse practitioners, paramedics, etc.) to enable them to become competent, independent practitioners in the urgent care setting.

The primary aim is to improve clinical practice by developing a broader workforce able to manage common anterior segment conditions under appropriate clinical governance and medical oversight, helping to relieve pressure on ophthalmic services and reduce waiting times in the urgent care setting.

Programme aims

This programme aims to:

• Equip ophthalmic nurses, A&E nurses, GP practitioners, paramedics with the clinical knowledge and practical skills required to function as a practitioners within the A&E and GP settings.
• Develop systematic competence in anterior segment examination using the slit lamp.
• Build understanding of pathophysiology, clinical presentation, and evidence-based management of common ophthalmic emergency conditions.
• Develop the ability to formulate structured, treatment plans within defined professional boundaries.
• Promote safe clinical reasoning, including timely recognition of red flag features and appropriate escalation.
• Support the development of high-quality clinical documentation and effective patient communication.
• Prepare participants for independent practice, underpinned by reflective, portfolio-based evidence of workplace.

Learning outcomes

You'll learn how to:

• Perform a safe, systematic anterior segment examination using the slit lamp, applying correct techniques and fluorescein staining.  
• Elicit and document a focused ophthalmic history and differentiate the clinical features of core anterior segment conditions. 
• Formulate and justify an evidence-informed treatment plan for common presentations. 
• Recognise red flag features and initiate appropriate escalation in accordance with local pathways. 
• Demonstrate safe, competent, and defensible clinical practice, evidenced by a completed workplace portfolio.

Course structure

The programme design is underpinned by the ADDIE instructional design model (Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, Evaluation), ensuring the curriculum is needs-led, coherent, and aligned to measurable outcomes in clinical practice.

Delegates will start with a 3-day intensive face-to-face teaching block, followed by a 6-month workplace-based portfolio development. Summative assessment combines written MCQ and structured OSCE stations to assess both knowledge and applied clinical competence.

Tutors

Your study day tutors are:

• Anjali Praveen (Head of Nurse Education).
• Gill Reed (Clinical Educator).
• Fardowsa Dirir (Clinical Educator).
• Jo Baduna (Clinical Educator).
• Lissa Devasia (Clinical Educator).

Who is this programme for?

This programme has been designed specifically for multi-professional workforce (A&E nurses, GP nurse practitioners, paramedics, physicians' assistants, community practitioners, and pharmacists) with no prerequisite ophthalmic qualification.

CPD accreditation

Participants will receive a certificate of completion upon successful achievement of all assessed components, including the portfolio, written MCQ and OSCE.